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McCready paved way for black students
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Her white classmates ignored her. She walked alone down the hallways and sat by herself at lunch. Surgeon R. Adams Cowley refused to face her side of the room during lectures. And the school wouldn’t let her share a dorm room with other students, instead clearing out an office on a separate floor.
Stepping inside the University of Maryland School of Nursing as the first black student was like walking into an “igloo,” Esther McCready says.
“People were just totally avoiding me,” she said.
“After the first day, I had a headache like I had never had before, with all the stress. I remember when I got into the front door, my mother took one look at me and said, ‘You don’t have to go back.’ ”
But she did go back after that historic day in 1950, leaving open the door for other black students to follow.
McCready said she never intended to become a civil rights trailblazer. She just wanted to study nursing, a dream she had since she was 8, without leaving her native Baltimore.
She sent letters requesting information to all the local schools. “We don’t accept Negroes,” came one reply after another.
Only University of Maryland sent a catalog, but after months passed and the school year began without any word about her application, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People helped her sue.
The NAACP sent a lawyer to argue the case before the state’s highest court: Thurgood Marshall, another Baltimore native who went on to win Brown v. the Board of Education and become the nation’s first black Supreme Court justice. Marshall was victorious, but McCready needed to rely on inner strength to then make it through school, the uncomfortable glares and the racist teachers.
“I think it was divine guidance. I consider it a mission,” said McCready, now 76. “I could play by myself as a child. That was preparation for being alone.”
kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:44 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008 re: "For many women, this school is a perfect fit"
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10:19 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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7:54 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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7:53 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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11:52 AM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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2:53 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007
re: "Promises aside, read the contract"
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1:19 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 22, 2007
re: "Join up, go to war, get a degree"
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6:15 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007
re: "Loyola teaches with outside service"
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5:53 AM MST on Mon., Sep. 10, 2007
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2:29 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "McDaniel College: Real-world learning"
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2:12 PM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
re: "Campus growth is Coppin’s focus"
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9:58 AM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
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10:10 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
The institution is a fraud. They treat employees unfairly and they have forgotten the roots of the institution- the undergraduate women and the communal attitude. The school has become driven by profit and has turn into an old boys club. Higher-ups chum it up with each other while "lesser" staff are walked all over. The students enjoy their time, but with limited resources and budget- the school is having a hard time providing for their campus members.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
my question is at the end of your statement you said that you don't want the most quilfied nurse to take care of you. why that just don't make sense. I just retired from the military and am looking to become a nurse and if I was some old person laying bed I would like to know that there was someone that was well quilified to take care of me. thank you for your time in reading this note
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
179 agree | 190 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
188 agree | 190 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the RN Associates degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete. Compared to 18-24 months for BSN. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.
178 agree | 185 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the military truly wanted to have potential recruits understand the enlistment contract it would simply reduce the entire bogus contract to the following infamous 40 words from Section C, Paragraph 9: "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces regardless of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document." - Pat Elder
172 agree | 199 disagree
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Don said:
I tried to join up they told me I was too old. I'm 64 I think I'll file papers for age discrimination.
219 agree | 194 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Any plans in the works to overthrow the Vatican again or is that something you can't talk about?
211 agree | 186 disagree
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Diversity? said:
What diversity? The article talks only about blacks.
355 agree | 212 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great article...My 2 kids went there and it was the best 8 yrs anyone could ask for. Both have since gone on to great jobs and both value their days at SMCM.
427 agree | 274 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Glad to see you acknowledge McDaniel College. I am a grad ( Class of "61 ) and a Trustee--and very proud to be both. George Varga
477 agree | 305 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Over the last 20 years or more "Baltimore City School System," has been under the microscope of Judge Garbish (Special Education). Morgan, Johns Hopkin, Coppin, all have had opportunities as research institutions to address this major educational problem and the poverty rate, un-employment, single mothers crime. Coppin has had its misfortunes, and attracted low quality of instructors whom are not concerned with the social economical, educational, problems that plague the Urban Inner City youth. Poverty is a key element in Baltimore City. Politicians does not give a hoot of the demographics nor the incidents of poverty across the city. The fourth count census 2000 is a clear in measuring how people live. African Americans are left out of the loop "Johns Hopkins are the main architect to disenfranchise the poor, disadvantaged. They are the major research institution in Maryland from all indications the African American community is ignored by the major players.
265 agree | 311 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Coppin State should be proud that it focuses on academics and not sports. Who cares if the baseball team lost 44 games in a year. The students who earn a degree will have more power than any hitter on a baseball diamond.
451 agree | 306 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Excellent and informative series that parents and students can use to decide on a Maryland college or university. Thanks!
511 agree | 358 disagree
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